Contamination OCD and making friends?

[LiveOutLove_22]

Hello everyone, I hope everyone is having a good day. I'm relatively new to the forum/community. I tend to stay away from social media or any time on online avenues. I tend to overthink anything and everything. But my therapist wanted me to join this forum in hoping to connect with others who know what it's like to struggle with OCD. I currently am in therapy ERP (Expose Response Prevention). I started at the beginning of the year. After hitting rock bottom in December. For years I wouldn't take medicine or get the actual help I need. I am jobless right now because my main focus is to better my mental health and finally work on my OCD. My main type of OCD is Contamination OCD. It has caused me to pull back away from my friends and family as well as any social event. Obviously when the pandemic hit, that was the worst for my OCD as I have a fear of sickness and germs. I have been on my medicince regularly for about 2 months. I have seen vast improvements from my therapy as well as the medication. It took me years to finally get the help. I'll admit I was terrified and angry that I had let myself go that far in my life without getting help. But the fact that I am where I'm at today compared to December is night and day difference. I am working on approaching and talking to people in public. I currently have one best friend but unfortanely she doesn't live near me. I want to know if anyone here that has mainly Contamination OCD, if they struggle with making friends. I have tried to get out more and tried to sign up for social events but I"m too scared to talk to people. Sometimes my fear of going places and talking to people instead of me having a good time. I'm constantly wondering if these people are sick or what happens if they are and I get sick. If someone coughs or brings up any sickness I immedialy leave. I'm constantly working on that. But becasue of my OCD fear of germs and sickness, I wonder if I will be able to make more friends. I don't know if this is my OCD or if its just me as a persona and my personality but I would be so currious of your opinions on this forum/community and if you struggled with making friends do you have any tips or suggestions. I am currently on the road to recovery and I'm feeling more confident but I'm still very lonely and would love to have more people to talk to and hang out with. Once again thank you guys for all the support. I hope everyone in this community can conquer whatever journey of OCD your struggling with. Best of luck to all of you. I am rooting for all you and myself along the way.

[Natureloverpeace]

It sounds like you’re making progress and that’s great. Social situations can be hard for many people for various reasons. I personally found it easier to just jump into a social situation without overthinking it because my what if thinking just makes it worse and usually doesn’t come true anyway. If it does come true, I can handle it. I value family and friendship relationships very, very much. I do my best to do things that cultivate those values instead of OCD fears. For a long time, OCD and social anxiety took away what I value most which is precious time with family. I decided I wasn’t going to let that continue no matter what. Standing up to those fears was freedom because I discovered they were just full of hot air.

[LiveOutLove_22 in reply to Natureloverpeace]

Thank you so much for your response. I totally agree with everything you've said. If you overthink to much than you'll never do anything. I have lost more connections to friendships through my OCD slowly trying to break through the mold of my fears and get back out there and start living life again. Thank you again for your response I appreciate it.

[Natureloverpeace in reply to LiveOutLove_22]

You’re welcome.

[Natureworshipper]

Hello! I also suffer from contamination OCD and overthink a lot of situations. I find that getting out and socializing actually takes my mind off of rumination and gives me something else to focus on (interacting with others). Of course, I have also been working on being present and not overthinking past conversations (another one of my OCD tendencies). I wish you all the best on your OCD journey.